Role of self-efficacy, knowledge sharing, mediated adaptability and external environment change as moderators of readiness for change

It is vital for higher education to improve its ability to anticipate and implement long-lasting change. Private higher education institutions are currently facing challenges in governance that hinder their ability to upgrade their accreditation grade to "excellent ".  The involvement of institutional management is a key factor in enabling these institutions to compete on a national and international level. Research methodology uses confirmatory factor analysis to test the hypotheses developed while structural equation modeling is employed as the equation model. The sample population comprised 16 private tertiary institutions in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The study focused on the heads of study programs resulting in a total of 195 respondents.  The results indicated that self-efficacy and knowledge sharing did not have a direct impact on readiness for change whereas adaptability exhibited a direct influence. The study demonstrated that adaptability acts as a mediator between self-efficacy and knowledge sharing towards readiness for change. The final model test results confirmed adaptability as a mediating variable. Additionally, the study revealed that external environmental change did not moderate the relationship between adaptability and readiness for change. Changes of a high calibre that promote a sustained digital education transformation are necessary due to the real-world effects on Indonesia's higher education system. The ability to adapt and embrace new technology is very important factors for higher education performance to face readiness for change in private higher education, especially in management units.